Is there a breakfast more favoured by Melburnians than smashed avocado on toast? Avocado is the food equivalent of a little black dress – it goes with pretty much anything. From feta and heirloom tomatoes, to poached eggs and plenty of bacon, no breakfast should be considered complete without an avo in the mix.
Thankfully we were spoiled for choice when it came to compiling this list, so here are our picks for Melbourne’s best pimped up, primed and polished smashed avo.
Tom, Dick and Harry
South Yarra
Tom, Dick and Harry's version is the smashed avocado dish that will have you firing on all cylinders all day. Served on chia seed toast, it's heaped with a super grain salad featuring raw greens, feta, corn, currents, fresh herbs, seeds and smoked almonds. Throw in some poached eggs for good measure, too. As well as being damn delicious, it looks absolutely stunning with pops of colour from the pomegranate and edible flower garnishes.
Giddyup Mule
Yarraville
Yarraville’s health-conscious hub Giddyup Mule is not only serving up breakfast that is good for you, but it also isn’t afraid to play with the classics. Their Avocado Smash actually has soft boiled eggs mixed in with the avocado, enhancing the smooth texture. It also comes with feta, smoked tomato, watercress salad and kombucha vinaigrette. Wash it all down with some spiced orange kombucha straight from the tap.
Carolina
Brunswick East
This avocado dish at Carolina has saved our souls on a Sunday on more than one occasion, which is why we keep coming back for more. You can either go the classic option with olive oil, lemon and herbs, or you can live a little and add the house-pickled beetroot, goats cheese and spiced walnuts. In this case, more is definitely more. This breakfast is best enjoyed in their back courtyard on a lazy, sunny morning.
Touchwood Café
Richmond
At The Urban List we’re all about giving you options, and this Richmond breaky spot is happy to oblige. Option number 1 at Touchwood comes with beetroot relish, burnt lime, pickled red onion, coriander, mixed seeds, and sumac salt. Option number 2 is for those looking to add some meaty goodness to the most important meal of the day with feta, mint, pickled red onion, house smoked salmon or bacon.
Mr Ed
Flemington
Flemington’s café by day, burger bar by night, is a serious winner when it comes to all-day eating. Smashed avocado is served on rye toast with poached eggs, toasted chia and shredded kale. We have to admit though, our favourite part about this breakfast is the generous dose of grilled halloumi that it comes with it, to help satisfy our early morning salt craving.
Mr Hendricks
Balwyn
Although we usually can’t go past Mr Hendricks’ crispy eggs, the avocado creation here makes this family-run business a serious breakfast contender. The avocado on toast is served with wakame, sesame, spring onion, pickled cucumber salad and lemon gel. For goodness sake, add some house cured salmon to that and thank us later. We’ve never had avocado on toast with edible seaweed before, so Mr Hendricks get full marks for flavour and being adventurous.
Shifty Chevre
Fitzroy
A menu that’s built around cheese; do we really need to say any more? They have two smashed avocado offerings here: A more traditional feta and basil leaf combo, or for something a little more extravagant, go with the grilled halloumi, smoked Atlantic salmon and tomato salsa served on sourdough toast. Did we mention that Shifty are licensed? Now that’s a debaucherous brunch in the making...
Adeney Milkbar Café
Kew
Milk bars aren’t only good for mixed lolly bags and milkshakes, you can also sort yourself out an excellent breakfast if you know where to look. Adeney has not one, but two avo options for you - the first being a traditional feta, mint and lemon combination served on toasted multigrain. For a wake up call you might actually enjoy, try their Spring Smash that combines avocado with chilli, coriander and fresh lime on sourdough. Add a perfect poached egg for a bit of protein, but it is the chilli that will really get you perky first thing in the morning when a coffee won’t cut it.
Birdman Eating
Fitzroy
All day breakfast at this Fitzroy institution never fails to satisfy. The Birdman smashed avocado is a perfect example of an unbeatable combination: Spinach, black sesame, medley tomatoes, radish, Danish feta, free range poached eggs on toasted pane di casa sourdough, and finished with a micro salad. Their corn and zucchini fritters are also served with smashed av, but if your heart is set on the real deal, go with Option A.
Manchester Press
CBD
While the preferred base for smashed avocado is most often toast of some description, we thought we’d throw in a bagel for good measure. Our pick of the bunch is found in the heart if the CBD, where avocado, lemon and chilli is topped with Meredith Dairy goats feta and micro herbs. Choose a bagel between poppy seed, wholegrain, sesame seed or gluten free and start your day off right at Manchester.
Want more breakfast hotspots? Search breakfast in the Directory!
Photo credit: TUL Sydney